The King's Court

L

Leon unceremoniously marched inside my chambers later that day. I gave him a curious look as he continued to pace back and forth I continued to do about my business. I flipped to the next page of the book I found in one of Evelyn's things.

"Brother," he called. "Must you be so nonchalant about my dilemma?"

I gave him a curious glance. "What dilemma?"

"I slept with Lorence."

I raised my brow and let out a dry laugh. "I reckon that wasn't the first time it happened?"

He gave me an incredulous look. "That was different."

I closed the book and gently placed it on the bookmark back to where it was before I removed it. I can't let Evelyn know I was reading one of her smutty choices for literature.

"How, pray tell, was that different? You slept with the same person. And I do not think it is wisely advised for you to talk about this kind of matter with me. Especially that you're talking about the Queen of this Kingdom. Need I remind you we have a very fragile relationship as of the moment?"

"I was very aware of that, thank you very much."

He rested his head on the headrest and sighed.

"What changed?" I asked. 

"What?"

"You said it was different. How was that different? What changed?"

He let out another sigh and was about to say something when suddenly, the door burst open and Mark rushed in. Despite his constant show of indifference to our mission here, he had been a great help to our cause. I admit I didn't like him the first time I saw him but he has been a good friend to Evelyn. 

The thought came to mind a few times. 

Once Evelyn goes back to her world, she will not have me. I would not have her. But Mark will be there for her. If it all comes down to it, Mark will have my support. They will both have my support. But of course, it will all be up to Evelyn. The thought of her with another man makes me want to shatter the windows. It would be a long time to make peace with that thought alone but it had to be done. It had to be accepted. No matter how gut-wrenching it was.

"What's the matter? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost, Markus?" asked Leon. 

Mark was panting hard as though he had been running so hard from god-knows-where. Then I saw the splotch of blood on his left shoulder. 

"Where is Eve?" he asked, voice low. 

"What happened to your shoulder, Markus?" I asked but he looked like he couldn't care less about his wound.

"Where's Evelyn?" he repeated, swallowing hard.

"She went with Lorence. Why? What about it?"

He let out a loud curse before he slammed a piece of paper on the table. Leon and I looked at each other before we both gave Mark a questioning look.

"What's this?" Leon picked up the paper.

"Just read it for fuck's sake." 

Leon immediately started reading the paper and I watched how his expression changed from relaxed to pure horror in seconds. I did not waste any more time and snatched the paper from his fingers. As I finished reading the whole thing, I felt like my soul just left my body. 

"Where did you find this?" 

"It was hung to an arrow and it went straight to the wall behind me as I was in the courtyard with Louis. That's how I got this graze."